Heat exchanger mounting base and heat exchanger assembly

ABSTRACT

A heat exchanger mounting base and a heat exchanger assembly for use with and in combination with a gas compressor for defining an improved inter- and after-cooler configuration. The base comprises upper and lower mounting surfaces; upper surfaces are provided for mounting a plurality of heat exchanger units. The lower, ported surface accommodates the transfer of gas to and from a compressor stage housing. Ducting formed within the base accommodates the transfer of gas from a given exhaust port of the compressor to the inter-cooler stage and therefrom to a second stage of the compressor. The base accommodates the transfer of gas from the second stage of the compressor through several passes of a second heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger units are mounted in spaced relationship upon the base and, with end walls, define a chamber therewith. Grille work mounted on the outer surfaces of the heat exchanger units accommodates for the influx of coolant air through both heat exchanger units simultaneously and an updraft of the coolant air to an exhaust plenum. The cooling air is forced to flow through the grille work, and the chamber subsisting between the heat exchanger units, by means of a single fan motor mounted above the chamber. A manifold, comprising one of the end walls of the chamber has a plurality of apertures formed therethrough. One of the apertures accommodates for the inflow of a compressed gas product, from a first stage of the compressor, for communication therefrom through the base member to a first of the heat exchanger units. The other aperture in the manifold is provided for exhausting cooling air from the first stage of the compressor for the venting thereof through the chamber. Finally, there is an aperture provided in the base member for the conduct of cooling air from the second stage of the compressor for passage into the chamber and for exhausting thereof therefrom.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Frank D. Howe Painted Post, N.Y.

[211 App]. No. 18,862

[22] Filed Mar. 12, 1970 [45] Patented Dec. 14, 1971 [73] Assigneelngersoll-Rand Company New York, N.Y.

[54] HEAT EXCHANGER MOUNTING BASE AND HEAT Primary Examinen-Frederick L.Matteson Assistant Examiner-W. C. Anderson Attorneys-Frank S. Troidl,David W. Tibbott and Bernard J.

Murphy ABSTRACT: A heat exchanger mounting base and a heat exchangerassembly for use with and in combination with a gas compressor fordefining an improved interand after-cooler configuration. The basecomprises upper and lower mounting surfaces; upper surfaces are providedfor mounting a plurality of heat exchanger units. The lower, portedsurface accommodates the transfer of gas to and from a compressor stagehousing. Ducting formed within the base accommodates the transfer of gasfrom a given exhaust port of the compressor to the inter-cooler stageand therefrom to a second stage of the compressor. The base accommodatesthe transfer of gas from the second stage of the compressor throughseveral passes of a second heat exchanger unit. The heat exchanger unitsare mounted in spaced relationship upon the base and, with end walls,define a chamber therewith. Grille work mounted on the outer surfaces ofthe heat exchanger units accommodates for the influx of coolant airthrough both heat exchanger units simultaneously and an updraft of thecoolant air to an exhaust plenum. The cooling air is forced to flowthrough the grille work, and the chamber subsisting between the heatexchanger units, by means of a single fan motor mounted above thechamber. A manifold, comprising one of the end walls of the chamber hasa plurality of apertures formed therethrough. One of the aperturesaccommodates for the inflow of a compressed gas product, from a firststage of the compressor, for communication therefrom through the basemember to a first of the heat exchanger units. The other aperture in themanifold is provided for exhausting cooling air from the first stage ofthe compressor for the venting thereof through the chamber. Finally,there is an aperture provided in the base member for the conduct ofcooling air from the second stage of the compressor for passage into thechamber and for exhausting thereof therefrom.

Patented Dec. 14, 1971 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 COMPRESSOR SECOND COMPRESSORSECOND STAGE INLET PORT STAGE OUTLET PORT\ Patented Dec. 14, 1971 2Sheets-Sheet 2 iNVENTOR FRANK 0. HOWE HEAT EXCHANGER MOUNTING BASE ANDHEAT EXCHANGER ASSEMBLY This invention pertains to heat exchanger unitmounting bases and heat exchanger assemblies for use with, and incombination with, gas compressors having external gas ports, andespecially to such a base and assembly as obviate any requirement forexternal piping or conduits for interconnecting the gas compressor withthe heat exchanger units.

In the prior art it has been necessary to mount heat exchanger units,for intercooler and aftercooler use with a gas compressor having aplurality of stages, with external piping or conduits. Also, in thepriorart, it is customary for each heat exchanger unit to have its ownseparate and distinct means for passing coolant medium therethrough.

It is an object of this invention to teach a mounting base for at leastone heat exchanger unit which eliminates any necessity for externalpiping or conduit arrangements, the mounting base having means foraccommodating such one heat exchanger unit thereon, and means foraccommodating an abutting engagement of the mounting base with anexternal wall of a given gas compressor, with means for admitting gasinto the base and therefrom directly into and through the external wallof the gas compressor through a given gas port of the gas compressor.

It is another object of this invention to teach a novel heat exchangerassembly, for use with a gas compressor having external ports, whichincorporates a mounting base, of the type just noted, on which aremounted a plurality of heat exchanger units. The heat exchanger unitsare mounted on the base in spaced relationship and walls mounted to boththe units and the mounting base cooperate to define a chamber throughwhich other single means force a cooling medium through all of the unitssimultaneously.

A teaching of this invention comprises the provisioning of a base memberhaving upper and lower mounting surfaces. The upper surface isespecially configured to accommodate abutting engagement thereof withheat exchanger units, to facilitate the mounting of such units thereon.Further, the upper surface has openings to accommodate the flow of thegas into andout of the heat exchanger units, and the openings furtherprovide for the transfer of the gas to and from any gas compressormounted to the lower surface of the mounting base. I

Another feature of the invention, which is exemplified by the heatexchanger assembly embodiment disclosed herein by way of example,teaches the use of a manifold as one of the wall means defining thechamber between the heat exchanger units. The manifold is ported toaccommodate the influx of the gas product from one stage of any gascompressor abutting engaged with the manifold, and has channeling tofacilitate the transfer of the product gas into and out of a pluralityof heat exchanger units mounted to the base. Further objects andfeatures of this invention will become more apparent by reference to thefollowing description taken in conjunction with the accompanying figuresin which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of the assembly of FlG. 2 shown operativelymounted to first and second stage housings of a gas compressor;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view, partly in section, of an embodiment of aheat exchanger assembly according to the invention, with the coolantoutlet vent shown in light, broken line;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary view of the bottom of the mounting base, takenalong section 3-3 of FIG. 1, showing the gas ports and the stage-housingcoolant apertures; and

FIG. 4 is a diagrammatic illustration of the aftercooler arrangementwith the gas flow directions being depicted.

Shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a gas compressor comprising a plurality ofstage housings l2 and 14 having a heat exchanger assembly 16, accordingto the invention, abuttingly engaged with and mounted thereto. In thisembodiment, the heat exchanger assembly 16 comprises an intercooler l8and an aftercooler 20. Each cooler comprises a heat exchanger unit 22mounted to a base member 24 which has a plurality of mounting surfaces26 and 28. The surface of the base member to which the heat exchangerunits are mounted will be considered the upper surface 26 and theopposite surface therefrom the lower surface 28. The upper surface 26 ofthe base member 24 has on one gated openings 30 and 32 to accommodatethe entry of the product gas into bank of heat exchanger elements 34 ofthe one unit for a pass of the gas product therethrough and toaccommodate the venting of the now cooled gas from the heat exchangerunit 22 for return into the base member 24. The heat exchanger elements34 comprise hollow tubing, for the conduct of gas therethrough, whichtubing carries spacedapart annular radiators thereupon. The lowermounting surface 28 of the base member 24 is ported, as shown in FIG. 3,to accommodate the transfer of the: now cooled gas product into thesecond stage of the gas compressor 10. The lower mounting surface 28 isabuttingly engaged with and mounted to a second-stage housing 14 of thegas compressor 10, and a port 36 formed in the lower mounting surface 28is aligned in juxtaposition with the compressor second stage inlet port,

formed in the wall of the compressor second-stage housing 14. Compressedgas product from the second stage is admitted through a second port 38,via the compressor second-stage outlet port aligned therewith, and isconducted through the base member through ducting formed therein intoand through the aftercooler heat exchanger unit 20 for cooling anddischarge therefrom.

The base member upper mounting surface 26 is angulated at both sides todispose the heat exchanger units 22 in a configuration. Accordingly theheat exchanger 'units are spaced apart and cooperate to define, incooperation with the base member 24, a chamber 40 therebetween. Thechamber is further walled in by means disposed at opposite ends of theheat exchanger units, to wit; a cover plate 42 disposed at one end ofthe heat exchanger units 22 and mounted to the units, and a manifold 44disposed at and mounted to the opposite ends of the heat exchangerunits. An outlet vent 46 surmounts the chamber to provide for an exhaustof the coolant medium therethrough. The outlet vent 46 has mountedtherewithin a motorized fan 48 to facilitate the exhausting of thecoolant medium, air. The external sidewall of each of the heat exchangerunits comprise grilles 70 through which the cooling air can be admittedfor passage of the cooling air through the heat exchanger units 22 andfor admittance to the chamber 40. The motorized fan 48 updrafts thecoolant air from the chamber and vents it out ofthe upper stack.

It is to be noted, then, that a novel teaching of my invention providessingle means, notably the motorized fan 48, to cool a plurality of heatexchanger units 22. The particular arrangement which I teach providesfor the simultaneous cooling of both heat exchanger units with the onefan. Also, as is evident in the figures which illustrate an embodiment,the base member 24 to which the heat exchanger units 22 are mounted, inhaving juxtapositionally aligned openings and porting for the heatexchanger units and gas compressor ports obviates any requirement toprovision external piping or conduits to effect the transfer of theproduct gas from stages of air compressor 10 to the individual heatexchanger units.

The manifold 44 which defines one wall of the chamber 40 has a port 50which forms an interface with the compressor first stage outlet port50a, and channelling 52 formed therein which accommodate the dischargeof the gas product from the first stage housing 12 of the gas compressor10 and its transfer to the elongated opening 30 which lies beneath theupper mounting surface 26 of the base member 24 for communication withthe interstage or intercooler heat exchanger unit 22; channeling 52opens at the base or lowermost end thereof on opening 30 to effect thiscommunication.

it is to be noted, from study of FIGS. 2 and 4, that each of the heatexchanger units have returned heads 54 and 56 of differentconfigurations. The return head 54 for the first or intercooler heatexchanger unit is unobstructed. That is, it provides for theunobstructed transverse flow of the product gas thereacross. In theembodiment shown, the product gas makes side thereof a plurality ofelona first pass through the first heat exchanger unit 22 to the returnhead 54, transverses the return head and makes a second pass throughthis first heat exchanger unit, and flows thence therefrom into the basemember 24. The return head 56 for the second or aftercooler heatexchanger unit 22 is partitioned. As shown in FIG. 4, it has a web 58extending therewithin to effect a different flow of the product gasthrough the intercooler 22. Product gas is admitted to the aftercooler20 from the second stage of the gas compressor and is conductedtherethrough through a first portion A, of four portions A through D, ofthe aftercooler, and turned in the return head 56 for a second passthrough the second portion B of the aftercooler. The gas is vented fromthe second portion and turned in a chamber 60 provided in the basemember 24 for a third pass through the third portion C of theaftercooler 20, again turned in the return head 56 for a final passthrough, the final portion D of the aftercooler. A base member wall 62separates chamber 60 from other chambers formed in the base member 24 bya further wall 64.

The product gas which is now fully cooled is conducted throughchanneling 66 formed in the manifold 44 to the ducted discharge port 68of the heat exchanger assembly 16.

The base member 24 and the manifold 44 each have additional ports 72 and74, respectively, formed therein for admitting cylinder cooling air intothe chamber 40 formed between the heat exchanger units 22. As shown inFIG. I, each of the air compressor stage housings l2 and 14 have coolingair ports 76. The ports are screened and admit air therethrough forpassage along throughways (not shown) within the stage housings tofacilitate a cooling of the stage cylinders. The cooling air isexhausted from the stage housings l2 and 14, the housings being gasketedto the manifold 44 and the base member 24 through second screen ports72a and 740 which are confined within the gasketing (the gasketing notbeing shown). The cooling air for the first stage compressor cylindersvents through the screened port 74a. This port is in juxtaposition withthroughgoing port 74 fonned in the rearmost surface of manifold 44which, in turn, opens on the chamber 40. The other port 72 formed in thelowermost surface of base member 24 is also in juxtaposition with thescreened cylinder cooling air port 720 of the second stage housing 14for conducting the cooling air therethrough also to the chamber 40.Accordingly, ambient air is ingested, by way of screened ports 76, intohousings l2 and 14, and is drawn by fan 48 through the ports 72a and740. These latter ports, as explained, define interfaces with ports 72and 74 so as to allow the air to be admitted into chamber 40. Port 72comprises a throughgoing opening in the lowermost surface of assembly16, and port 74 comprises a throughgoing opening in the rearmost surfaceof manifold 44; the two ports 72 and 74, therefore, open internally onchamber 40. With this teaching of my invention, it is required toprovide only one motorized fan 48, or like air moving devices,simultaneously to cool both an intercooler and aftercooler and to efiectmovement of both the first and second-stage cylinder cooling air. Allsuch cooling air is moved into the chamber, and is exhausted therefrom,by such single means.

While I have described my invention in connection with a specificembodiment thereof, it is to be clearly understood that this done onlyby way of example and not as a limitation to the scope of my inventionas set forth in the objects thereof and in the appended claims.

lclaim:

l. A base for mounting at least one heat exchanger unit, for use with agas compressor having external gas ports, comprismg:

a base member having a plurality of mounting surfaces;

wherein:

at least one of said mounting surfaces is configured to accommodate anabutting engagement thereof with at least one given heat exchanger unit.to facilitate a mounting ofsuch one unit thereupon, and

a second of said mounting surfaces is configured to accommodate anabutting engagement thereof with an external wall of a given gascompressor, to facilitate a mounting of said base member to suchexternal wall; said base member having channeling and tube-end means foradmitting gas into said base member and for conducting such gas throughsaid one mounting surface for transfer of such gas directly into anysuch one given heat exchanger unit abuttingly engaged therewith; and

port means for admitting gas from such one unit directly into andthrough said base member, and through said second surface, for directtransfer of said gas through an external wall of a given, abutting gascompressor via a given gas port of such gas compressor; wherein said gasadmitting means together comprise a plurality of tube-end openingsformed in said one surface, and at least one port fonned in said secondsurface, given tube-end openings of said plurality thereof facilitatinga conduct of gas into and out of a given heat exchanger unit, and saidone port facilitating a conduct of gas to said given gas port of saidgas compressor and wherein said base member further includes a at leastasecond port means for admitting gas directly into said base member froma given, abutting gas compressor, upon such gas issuing from said givencompressor through an external wall thereof via a given gas port; and

further tube-end means for directly conducting gas from within said basemember through said one mounting surface of said plurality thereof; and

said one mounting surface is further configured to accommodate anabutting engagement thereof with a second, given heat exchanger unit, tofacilitate a mounting of such second unit thereupon.

2. A heat exchanger assembly, for use with a gas compressor havingexternal gas ports, comprising:

a base member having a plurality of mounting surfaces; and

a plurality of heat exchanger units mounted in abutting engagement withone surface of said plurality of surfaces; wherein a second surface ofsaid plurality of surfaces is configured to accommodate an abuttingengagement thereof with an external wall of a given gascompressor, tofacilitate a mounting of said base member to such external wall; and

said heat exchanger units of the plurality thereof are spaced-apart fromone another and, together with said base member, cooperate to define achamber therewithin and further including wall means mounted to andcooperative with said units and said base member to further define saidchamber; and

single means coupled to said units for forcing a cooling medium boththrough said units and through said chamber; and

wherein said units have grill means cooperative with said single meansto facilitate the forcing of such cooling medium through all of saidunits simultaneously.

3. The invention, according to claim 2, wherein:

said base member further has first means for admitting gas into saidbase member and for conducting such gas through said one surface fortransfer of such gas directly into at least one of said units; and

second means for admitting gas from said one unit directly into andthrough said base member, and through said second surface, for directtransfer of said gas through an external wall of any given, abutting gascompressor via a given gas port of such gas compressor.

4. THe invention, according to claim 2, wherein:

said wall means comprises a manifold; and

said manifold is configured to accommodate an abutting engagementthereof with an exterior wall of a given gas compressor and tofacilitate a mounting of said manifold to such exterior wall.

5. The invention, according to claim 4i, wherein: said base memberfurther has first means for admitting gas into said base member and forconducting such gas through said one surface for transfer of such gasdirectly into at least one of said units; and second means for admittinggas from said one unit directly through said one surface for transfer ofsuch gas into and through said base member, and through said secondsurface, for direct transfer of said gas through an external wall of anygiven, abutting gas compressor via a given gas port or such gascompressor.

6. The invention, according to claim 5, wherein:

said manifold has a given aperture formed therein to accommodate anabutting, engaged alignment thereof with a given gas port in saidexterior wall of such gas compressor; and

duct means through connecting said given aperture with said first meansto facilitate a transfer of such gas directly between said given gasport and said aperture, and to said first means via said duct means.

7. The invention, according to claim 6, wherein:

said manifold has a second aperture formed therein to receive fluidcoolant therethrough from any such gas compressor abuttingly mountedthereto, said second aperture opening upon said chamber.

8. The invention, according to claim 7, wherein:

said base member has an aperture formed therein to receive fluid coolanttherethrough from any such gas compressor abuttingly mounted thereto,said base member aperture opening on said chamber.

9. in the combination with a gas compressor having a plurality of stagehousings with external gas ports, a base for supporting thereon at leastone heat exchanger unit, comprising: a base member having a plurality ofmounting surfaces; wherein at least one of said mounting surfaces isconfigured to accommodate an abutting engagement thereof with at leastone given heat exchanger unit, to facilitate a mounting of such one unitthereupon; and

a second of said mounting surfaces is in abutting engagement with anexternal wall ofone ofsaid stage housings; said base member havingchanneling and tube-end means for admitting gas into said base memberand for conducting such gas through said one mounting surface fortransfer of such gas directly into any such one given heat exchangerunit abuttingly engaged therewith; and

port means for admitting gas from such one unit directly into andthrough said base member, and through said second surface, for directtransfer of said gas through an external wall of said gas compressor viaa given gas port of said compressor;

wherein said base member further includes at least a second port meansfor admitting gas directly into said base member from said compressor,upon such gas issuing from said gas compressor, through an external wallof another of said stage housings via one of said gas ports; and furthertube-end means for directly conducting gas from within said base memberthrough said one mounting surface of said plurality thereof; and saidone mounting surface is further configured to accommodate an abuttingengagement thereof with a second, given heat exchanger unit and tofacilitate a mounting of such second unit thereupon; and

wherein said channeling, tube-end, and port means together base memberand given ones of said as ports. 110. in combination, a gas compressoravmg a plurality of 0 stage housings with external gas ports, and a heatexchanger assembly, comprising:

a first stage housing and a second stage housing, said housings beingcoupled together;

a base member having a plurality of mounting surfaces; and

a plurality of heat exchanger units mounted in abutting engagement withone surface of said plurality of said surfaces; wherein a second surfaceof said plurality of surfaces is in abutting engagement with an externalwall of one of said stage housings;

said heat exchanger units of the plurality thereof are spaced-apart fromone another, and together with said base member, cooperate to define achamber therewithin; and further including wall means mounted to andcooperative with said units and said base member to further define saidchamber; and

single means surmounting said chamber for forcing a cooling medium boththrough said units and through said chamber.

11. The invention, according to claim 10, wherein:

said units have grill means cooperative with said single means tofacilitate the forcing of such cooling medium through all of said unitssimultaneously.

12. The invention, according to claim 10, wherein:

said wall means includes a manifold; and

said manifold is in abutting engagement with an exterior wall of anotherof said stage housings.

13. The invention, according to claim 12, wherein:

said base member further has first means for admitting gas into saidbase member and for conducting such gas through said one surface fortransfer of such gas directly into at least one of said units; and

second means for admitting gas from said one unit directly through saidone surface for transfer of such gas into and through said base member,and through said second surface, for direct transfer of said gas throughsaid external wall of said one stage housing via a given gas port ofsaid compressor.

M. The invention according to claim 13, wherein:

said manifold has a first aperture formed therein to accommodate anabuttingly engaged alignment thereof with a given gas port of saidcompressor in said exterior wall of said another stage housing; and

duct means throughconnecting said first aperture with said first meansto facilitate a transfer of such gas directly between said given gasport and said aperture, and to said first means via said duct means.

115. The invention, according to claim M, wherein:

said manifold has a second aperture formed therein to receive fluidcoolant therethrough from said gas compressor, said aperture opening onsaid chamber.

116. The invention, according to claim 115, wherein:

said base member has an aperture formed therein to receive fluid coolanttherethrough from said gas compressor, said base member aperture openingon said chamber.

i l l l

1. A base for mounting at least one heat exchanger unit, for use with agas compressor having external gas ports, comprising: a base memberhaving a plurality of mounting surfaces; wherein: at least one of saidmounting surfaces is configured to accommodate an abutting engagementthereof with at least one given heat exchanger unit, to facilitate amounting of such one unit thereupon; and a second of said mountingsurfaces is configured to accommodate an abutting engagement thereofwith an external wall of a given gas compressor, to facilitate amounting of said base member to such external wall; said base memberhaving channeling and tube-end means for admitting gas into said basemember and for conducting such gas through said one mounting surface fortransfer of such gas directly into any such one given heat exchangerunit abuttingly engaged therewith; and port means for admitting gas fromsuch one unit directly into and through said base member, and throughsaid second surface, for direct transfer of said gas through an externalwall of a given, abutting gas compressor via a given gas port of suchgas compressor; wherein said gas admitting means together comprise aplurality of tube-end openings formed in said one surface, and at leastone port formed in said second surface, given tube-end openings of saidplurality thereof facilitating a conduct of gas into and out of a givenheat exchanger unit, and said one port facilitating a conduct of gas tosaid given gas port of said gas compressor and whErein said base memberfurther includes at least a second port means for admitting gas directlyinto said base member from a given, abutting gas compressor, upon suchgas issuing from said given compressor through an external wall thereofvia a given gas port; and further tube-end means for directly conductinggas from within said base member through said one mounting surface ofsaid plurality thereof; and said one mounting surface is furtherconfigured to accommodate an abutting engagement thereof with a second,given heat exchanger unit, to facilitate a mounting of such second unitthereupon.
 2. A heat exchanger assembly, for use with a gas compressorhaving external gas ports, comprising: a base member having a pluralityof mounting surfaces; and a plurality of heat exchanger units mounted inabutting engagement with one surface of said plurality of surfaces;wherein a second surface of said plurality of surfaces is configured toaccommodate an abutting engagement thereof with an external wall of agiven gas compressor, to facilitate a mounting of said base member tosuch external wall; and said heat exchanger units of the pluralitythereof are spaced-apart from one another and, together with said basemember, cooperate to define a chamber therewithin and further includingwall means mounted to and cooperative with said units and said basemember to further define said chamber; and single means coupled to saidunits for forcing a cooling medium both through said units and throughsaid chamber; and wherein said units have grill means cooperative withsaid single means to facilitate the forcing of such cooling mediumthrough all of said units simultaneously.
 3. The invention, according toclaim 2, wherein: said base member further has first means for admittinggas into said base member and for conducting such gas through said onesurface for transfer of such gas directly into at least one of saidunits; and second means for admitting gas from said one unit directlyinto and through said base member, and through said second surface, fordirect transfer of said gas through an external wall of any given,abutting gas compressor via a given gas port of such gas compressor. 4.The invention, according to claim 2, wherein: said wall means comprisesa manifold; and said manifold is configured to accommodate an abuttingengagement thereof with an exterior wall of a given gas compressor andto facilitate a mounting of said manifold to such exterior wall.
 5. Theinvention, according to claim 4, wherein: said base member further hasfirst means for admitting gas into said base member and for conductingsuch gas through said one surface for transfer of such gas directly intoat least one of said units; and second means for admitting gas from saidone unit directly through said one surface for transfer of such gas intoand through said base member, and through said second surface, fordirect transfer of said gas through an external wall of any given,abutting gas compressor via a given gas port or such gas compressor. 6.The invention, according to claim 5, wherein: said manifold has a givenaperture formed therein to accommodate an abutting, engaged alignmentthereof with a given gas port in said exterior wall of such gascompressor; and duct means throughconnecting said given aperture withsaid first means to facilitate a transfer of such gas directly betweensaid given gas port and said aperture, and to said first means via saidduct means.
 7. The invention, according to claim 6, wherein: saidmanifold has a second aperture formed therein to receive fluid coolanttherethrough from any such gas compressor abuttingly mounted thereto,said second aperture opening upon said chamber.
 8. The invention,according to claim 7, wherein: said base member has an aperture formedtherein to receive fluid coolant therethrough from any such gascompressor abuttingLy mounted thereto, said base member aperture openingon said chamber.
 9. In the combination with a gas compressor having aplurality of stage housings with external gas ports, a base forsupporting thereon at least one heat exchanger unit, comprising: a basemember having a plurality of mounting surfaces; wherein at least one ofsaid mounting surfaces is configured to accommodate an abuttingengagement thereof with at least one given heat exchanger unit, tofacilitate a mounting of such one unit thereupon; and a second of saidmounting surfaces is in abutting engagement with an external wall of oneof said stage housings; said base member having channeling and tube-endmeans for admitting gas into said base member and for conducting suchgas through said one mounting surface for transfer of such gas directlyinto any such one given heat exchanger unit abuttingly engagedtherewith; and port means for admitting gas from such one unit directlyinto and through said base member, and through said second surface, fordirect transfer of said gas through an external wall of said gascompressor via a given gas port of said compressor; wherein said basemember further includes at least a second port means for admitting gasdirectly into said base member from said compressor, upon such gasissuing from said gas compressor, through an external wall of another ofsaid stage housings via one of said gas ports; and further tube-endmeans for directly conducting gas from within said base member throughsaid one mounting surface of said plurality thereof; and said onemounting surface is further configured to accommodate an abuttingengagement thereof with a second, given heat exchanger unit and tofacilitate a mounting of such second unit thereupon; and wherein saidchanneling, tube-end, and port means together comprise a plurality ofopenings formed in said one surface, and plurality of apertures formedin said second surface, given openings of said plurality thereoffacilitating a conduct of gas through said first surface for conduct ofgas into and out of any given heat exchanger units abuttingly engagedwith said surface, and said plurality of apertures facilitates acommunication of gas between said base member and given ones of said gasports.
 10. In combination, a gas compressor having a plurality of stagehousings with external gas ports, and a heat exchanger assembly,comprising: a first stage housing and a second stage housing, saidhousings being coupled together; a base member having a plurality ofmounting surfaces; and a plurality of heat exchanger units mounted inabutting engagement with one surface of said plurality of said surfaces;wherein a second surface of said plurality of surfaces is in abuttingengagement with an external wall of one of said stage housings; saidheat exchanger units of the plurality thereof are spaced-apart from oneanother, and together with said base member, cooperate to define achamber therewithin; and further including wall means mounted to andcooperative with said units and said base member to further define saidchamber; and single means surmounting said chamber for forcing a coolingmedium both through said units and through said chamber.
 11. Theinvention, according to claim 10, wherein: said units have grill meanscooperative with said single means to facilitate the forcing of suchcooling medium through all of said units simultaneously.
 12. Theinvention, according to claim 10, wherein: said wall means includes amanifold; and said manifold is in abutting engagement with an exteriorwall of another of said stage housings.
 13. The invention, according toclaim 12, wherein: said base member further has first means foradmitting gas into said base member and for conducting such gas throughsaid one surface for transfer of such gas directly into at least one ofsaid units; and second means for admitting gas from said one unitdirectly Through said one surface for transfer of such gas into andthrough said base member, and through said second surface, for directtransfer of said gas through said external wall of said one stagehousing via a given gas port of said compressor.
 14. The inventionaccording to claim 13, wherein: said manifold has a first apertureformed therein to accommodate an abuttingly engaged alignment thereofwith a given gas port of said compressor in said exterior wall of saidanother stage housing; and duct means throughconnecting said firstaperture with said first means to facilitate a transfer of such gasdirectly between said given gas port and said aperture, and to saidfirst means via said duct means.
 15. The invention, according to claim14, wherein: said manifold has a second aperture formed therein toreceive fluid coolant therethrough from said gas compressor, saidaperture opening on said chamber.
 16. The invention, according to claim15, wherein: said base member has an aperture formed therein to receivefluid coolant therethrough from said gas compressor, said base memberaperture opening on said chamber.